THE WORD IS GOD'S WILL.............. GOD'S WILL IS THE WORD

THE WORD IS GOD’S WILL – GOD’S WILL IS THE WORD

In the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, “If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.” (John 8:31, The Amplified Bible)  These words of our Lord are somewhat troubling to our generation.  How so?  Simple acts of obedience can be extremely challenging in the context of a society where it is commonly believed that the best way is a personally chosen path. 

Our democratic perspective of the world leads us to adopt a belief system that says ‘We have the right to vote’ on how we should live, what attitudes we should embrace and what actions we should enact.

Unfortunately for us, that is not at all how GOD sees it.  “There is a way that SEEMS RIGHT to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Ultimately, you and I will be judged by GOD, not on the basis of our natural inclinations or opinions, but on how well we honor, proclaim and abide by His Word.  In the end, nothing else matters.  Absolutely nothing.

If you are looking to discover or discern the will of God, it is found in one place only, i.e. in His Word.  His Word is His will, and His will is His Word.

In Psalm 119, the longest chapter of the Bible, King David penned powerful and poignant meditations on the excellency of God’s Word: (New King James Version)

01Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed, who stray from Your commandments.

30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way

59 I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.

68 You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes.

72 The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

93 I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.

97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

130 The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

165 Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

Honor God’s Word.  Believe it.  Obey it.  It is the only thing that will make the transition into eternity.  If we accept and adopt it (fully and freely), we will also make a safe and secure transit into the eternal presence and joy of our King.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

(Jesus Christ: Matthew 24:35 – Mark 13:31 – Luke 21:33)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part IV)

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part IV)

In order to be successful in life, we must discover, develop and deploy the God-ordained reasons for our being.  As children of divine destiny, we exist for His purpose.  Without knowing what they are and without actualizing them, our lives seem empty, irrelevant and unfulfilling.  Today, let’s take our last look at the dynamic Kingdom Principles presented to us by the late great Bible teacher and author, Dr. Myles Munroe:

Kingdom Principle #4:

“Without VISION, we lose self-control and discipline.”

How so?

- Crystal-clear vision orders our daily attitudes and actions.

- Crystal-clear vision gives us tangible reasons for eagerly embracing each day.

- Crystal-clear vision gives us a gauge for involvement and commitment.

- Crystal-clear vision gives us courage to persevere through difficult times.

- Crystal-clear vision stretches our faith and our intimacy with God.

How do we bring glory to God?  The answer is quite simple: By identifying and accomplishing the unique work that He has set our hands to do.  According to Dr. Munroe, “the cemetery is the richest place on Earth because it is filled with unwritten books, unstarted corporations and unrealized dreams.”  Wow!

In a very real sense, the vision that you have been provided is out-of-this-world!  Why?  Because at birth, GOD breathed something supremely special and unique into your body, mind and spirit. 

Get to it!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part III)

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part III)

Mission critical to life success is discovering, developing and deploying the primary reason for our being.  YOU and I are on this planet for a DIVINE Purpose!  Today, let’s take another look at the dynamic Kingdom Principles presented by the late great Dr. Myles Munroe:

Kingdom Principle #3:

“The fact that God started me is the proof (the evidence) that God finished me.”

My life-verse is Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  This scripture sustains me during the most challenging times.

Indeed, it is a paradox, but God always ends things first IN ETERNITY, and then backs up to start them in the context of time.  The prophet Isaiah confirmed that our God is all about “declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’” (Isaiah 46:10, NKJV)  If I may be bold enough to paraphrase our Creator, He is saying something like this: “I start at the end…after I have finished.”

That’s why God never panics.  And that is why we must never yield to fits of frustration or stress.  Let’s look briefly at some biblical examples.

The fall of man was no surprise to God; neither did it create consternation or dismay in the heavenlies.  Why?  Because the Lamb that was slain (chronologically only 2,000 years ago) had already been slain in the Mind of God eons “before the foundation of the world.” (I Peter 1:20)  Therefore, THE ATONEMENT (at-one-ment with the Father) was a finished work ages before it had started – long before it was recorded in the annals of human history.  Wow!

It follows, both logically and scripturally, that WE, too, have been “CHOSEN IN HIM before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4)  Just as our fore-parents fell from grace and we, their generational offspring, ultimately received redemption via the propitiation of Jesus Christ, we, too, have an open doorway to total restoration when we fail and fall from grace.  In the words of the apostle John, “My little children, these things I write unto you, so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (I John 2:1)

What does this mean on a practical level?  I love the fact that God had (what we might label) a ‘Plan B for Our Lives’ in Mind centuries before our nativity.  In a word, a divine contingency plan for the actualization of our human purpose and destiny was designed well before the foundation of the world.  This suggests that God does not treat true believers as cosmic experiments.  The Divine Manufacturer incorporated our human flaws into the blueprint!  We are already finished – and even our errors and missteps have been divinely factored into the end product.  Wow!

Sisters and brothers, it’s not too late.  Ask God to give you the courage to dream as a little child again, i.e. to reclaim your vision.  That will almost certainly involve “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” (Philippians 3:13)  You are far to blessed to ever be distressed.

You can do it.  I believe in you.  But far more importantly, GOD BELIEVES IN YOU!

The question is: Do you believe in God?  If so, then believe what His Word declares about you.  Listen with your spirit.  “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.  Blessed shall you be in the city…and blessed shall you be in the country...blessed shall be the fruit of your body…blessed shall be your basket and your store…blessed shall you be when you come in…and blessed shall you be when you go out.  The Lord will cause your enemies to be defeated.  The Lord will command the blessing on you and in all to which you set your hand.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-8)

Recapture your VISION and your dream.  dO IT TODAY!

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part II)

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part II)

We are all true visionaries.  To master life and destiny, we must learn to SEE ourselves and our uniqueness.  God created each of us with extraordinary gifts.  The key to life is discovering, developing and deploying the primary reason for our being.  Bottom-line: YOU and I are on this planet for a DIVINE Purpose!

Let’s go further into the dynamic Kingdom Principles presented by the late great Dr. Myles Munroe:

Kingdom Principle #2:

“Vision is seeing the future now, and preparing to go there.”

The very fact that we were created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26) suggests that we were endowed at birth with great IMAGINATION, or the ability to SEE and CREATE our future.  Therefore, vision is the next best thing to time travel.  God gave us imagination so we can take a tour of our future, come back to our present, then prepare to go there!  To wit, God is disappointed with small visions.  After all, He is a great God. 

Dr. Myles Munroe taught, “Give God something so big that He has to act like God to bring it to pass.”  Wow!  In the words my missionary mentor, Dr. John Haggai, “Dare to see a vision that is so large that it is doomed to failure, save God be in it.”  Wow!

One effective satanic distraction is to cause us to fixate on present day circumstances.  Seeing yourself as too small and your challenges as too great is a paralyzing activity.  The truth is that God gives great vision while we are small because great things are born in obscure mangers.  Think about it.

Every one should craft a personal vision statement.  Why?  Because vision is purpose in pictures.  But consider this: To have true vision, you must close your eyes – because the eyes are the greatest barrier to divine vision.  The most accomplished athletes take a moment prior to their performance to mentally envision success.  The alpine ski jumper SEES herself propelling gracefully from the mountain slope and sailing through the ear with the greatest of excellence and ease. 

How do you SEE yourself…and how do you SEE your future?  Incidentally, if people laugh at your vision (at first), that is one wonderful clue that it just might be God-sized, i.e. super-naturally sized, and that you are right on track.  There must only one initial believer in a true vision; and, that is YOU.

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part I)

CRAFTING YOUR UNIQUE LIFE-VISION (Part I)

God created each and every one of us with extraordinary and unique gifts.  The key to life is discovering, developing and deploying them.  For so many, life becomes a meaningless and meandering journey to nowhere, simply because we have not yet encountered and embraced the primary reason for our being.

Now hear this: YOU are on this planet for a purpose!

In God’s divine economy and efficiency, you would never have been created if something superbly special did not reside in your body, mind and spirit.  What you just might be lacking is a CLEAR VISION of who you are, what you will become and how you will be of service to others.

For the next several days, we will highlight several dynamic Kingdom Principles present by the late great Dr. Myles Munroe in March of 2004.

Kingdom Principle #1:

“Vision is seeing what God’s sees.”

To this end, my personal life-vision includes the phrase, “loving, learning and living, from GOD’S point-of-view.”  You and I are infinitely more than the natural elements that make up the human body.  In fact, we are supernatural in the sense that we have been endowed at birth with the “pneuma,” the living breath of God.  All too often, this key insight is ‘lost in the sauce’ of the hustle-bustle and hassle of daily living.  In a word, our world is fully addicted to ‘speed.’  We move too fast.  We live to fast.  We make decisions too fast.  Memo to ourselves: “SLOW DOWN!”  We must pause long enough to reflect on what GOD must have had in mind when He created us.  Surely, that is more than our daily nine-to-five, our next shopping expedition, or the material goods in our possession.

King Solomon penned these insightful words: “Where there is no VISION, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)  Which is to say, if I am not SEEING what GOD sees in me, I am liable to destroy my destiny by drifting through life via a series of random, haphazard, knee-jerk actions that have no place in the mind or will of God.

GOD sees you.  Do YOU see you?

Think about it and stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

GOD IS ALL THAT...AND MORE!

GOD IS ALL THAT…AND MORE!

Although, as a Christian, I do not personally subscribe to the tenets of Buddhism, there is one thing that they do which deeply resonates with me.  When referring to the character or attributes of God, they occasionally say “He is that…and more.”  For example, if they say God is good, they might add “He is that…and more.”  If they say God is great, they may add “He is that…and more.”  In other words, human language cannot aptly ascribe or adequately describe the goodness and the greatness of God.  I like that.

Various and sundry names for GOD are revealed in The Holy Writ for our enlightenment, edification and worship.  Each of these divine attributes are available and accessible to every believer.  So prayerfully ponder and practice the presence of God.

GOD IS…“El Elyon,” The Most High God, and so much more. (Genesis 14:18)

GOD IS…“El Gibbor,” The Mighty God, and so much more. (Isaiah 9:6)

GOD IS…“El He,” The Living God, and so much more. (Joshua 3:10)

GOD IS…“Elohim Kedoshim,” A Holy God, and so much more. (Joshua 24:19)

GOD IS…“Elohe Ma’ozi,” God of my Strength, and so much more. (Psalm 43:2)

GOD IS…“El Shaddai,” The Mighty God, and so much more. (Genesis 17:1-2)

GOD IS…“Elohe Tseba’oth,” God of my Salvation, and so much more. (Psalm 18:46)

GOD IS…“Elohe Tsadeki,” God of my Righteousness, and so much more. (Psalm 4:1)

GOD IS…“Jehovah,” The Lord, and so much more. (Exodus 6:2-3)

GOD IS…“Adonai Jehovah,” The Lord God, and so much more. (Genesis 15:2)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Bara,” The Lord Creator, and so much more. (Isaiah 40:28)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Tiskenu,” The Lord our Righteousness, and so much more. (Jeremiah 23:6)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Ganan,” The Lord of our Defense, and so much more. (Psalm 89:18)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Rohi,” The Lord my Shepherd, and so much more. (Psalm 23:1)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Jireh,” The Lord our Provider, and so much more. (Genesis 22:14)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Kabodhi,” The Lord my Glory, and so much more. (Psalm 3:3)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Sel’i,” The Lord my Rock, and so much more. (Psalm 18:2)

GOD IS…“Jehovah M’gaddishcem,” The Lord our Sanctifier, and so much more. (Exodus 31:13)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Yasha,” The Lord my Savior, and so much more. (Isaiah 49:26)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Machsi,” The Lord my Refuge, and so much more. (Psalm 91:9)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Rapha,” The Lord that Heals, and so much more. (Exodus 15:26)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Magen,” The Lord my Shield, and so much more. (Deuteronomy 33:29)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Tsori,” The Lord my Strength, and so much more. (Psalm 19:14)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Misqabbi,” The Lord my High Tower, and so much more. (Psalm 18:2)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Sabaoth,” The Lord of Hosts, and so much more. (I Samual 1:3)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Nissi,” The Lord our Banner, and so much more. (Exodus 17:15)

GOD IS…“Jehovah ‘Ori,” The Lord my Light, and so much more. (Psalm 27:1)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Mephalti,” The Lord my Deliverer, and so much more. (Psalm 18:2)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Shalom,” The Lord our Peace, and so much more. (Judges 6:24)

GOD IS…“Jehovah Shammah,” The Lord is There, and so much more. (Ezekiel 48:35)

Our God is infinitely more than any of us can ever comprehend or imagine.  And that is precisely why HE is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above ALL that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)  Make sure that your covenant connection is fundamentally intact and faithfully engaged by 1) believing on Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, 2) reading, mediating, speaking, honoring and obeying His Word, and 3) by communing intimately with Him (daily) via prayer and worship.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

DIVINE SMOKE SIGNALS

DIVINE SMOKE SIGNALS

A young sailor was the sole survivor of a shipwreck.  He landed on a tiny remote island in the South Pacific and prayed to God daily that someone might somehow locate and rescue him.  Every day, he looked expectantly for God’s help, but simply could not see it.  Tired of waiting, he made a shelter for himself to protect himself and his few remaining possessions.

One day, returning from foraging for food on the island, he found his little shelter fully engulfed in flames.  Everything he owned was burned and destroyed.  The sailor was completely confused and totally angry at God.  Just before falling asleep on the sandy shore, he shouted out, loudly and desperately, “Why did You do this to me?”

Early the next morning, he heard the sound of a boat drawing near to his remote island.  His rescuers had finally arrived!  He asked them how they knew he was there.  They replied, “Of course, we saw the huge smoke signals you had made.”

It is so easy to become frustrated and even angry at God (and others) due to circumstances that threaten our well-being, or our health, or our finances, or even our lives.  But remember this: Next time your ‘house’ is on fire, it very well could be a divine smoke signal.  Help is on the way!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

My sisters and brothers, Belinda and I are highly appreciative of your kind expressions of compassion and concern in the recent loss of her step-mother in Georgia.  Also, thanks so much for your patience regarding my extended absence from our daily devotional while we were traveling south.

Last evening, I reread a familiar poem that stimulated personal reflection and extensive conversation.  I thought it might be beneficial to share it with you.

If Jesus came to your house
To spend some time with you,
If He came unexpected,
I wonder what you’d do.

Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room
To such an honored guest,
And all the food you’d give to Him
Would be the very best.

And you would keep assuring Him
You’re glad to have Him there–
That serving Him within your home
Is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming,
Would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome
To your heavenly visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes
Before you’d let Him in?
Or hide some magazines
And put the Bible where they’d been?

Would you hide your worldly music
And put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in
Or would you rush about?

And I wonder – if the Savior
Spent a day or two with you,
Would you keep right on doing

The things you always do?

Would you go right on saying

The things you always say?
Or would life for you continue
As it does from day to day?

Could you take Jesus with you
Everywhere you’d go?
Or would you have to change your plans

For just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet
Your dearest and closest friends?
Or would you hope they stay away
Until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay
Forever and on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief
When He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know
The things that you would do,
If Jesus came in person

To spend some time with you.

It’s something to really think about.  In reality, JESUS IS HERE all the time.  Therefore, our entire lives, i.e. our relationships, our decisions, our attitudes and our actions should reflect a keen awareness of His presence.  According to Jesus Christ, “every idle word men shall speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36, NKJV)  So let’s live like He is always present!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

Upon the death of Moses, the Israelite’s emancipator and law giver, God issued a specific directive to the successor, Joshua.  I am convinced that this covenant commandment is universal and trans-generational, i.e. it may be aptly applied to every believer in the Body of Christ.  Prayerfully consider its message and meaning:

Joshua 1:7-9 (NKJV)
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law…do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.  8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Let’s briefly summarize the scriptural formula for success, set forth in the book of Joshua and other parts of The Holy Writ:

1) Be strong. (Ephesians 6:10)
2) Be courageous. (Psalm 27:14)
3) Be subject to divine order. (I Corinthians 14:40)
4) Be focused and steadfast. (I Corinthians 15:58)
5) Be a student of the Word. (Colossians 3:16)
6) Be fearless and joyful. (II Timothy 1:7)
7) Be engaged and equipped in the presence of God. (Ephesians 6:13)

Scripturally speaking, THIS IS YOUR BEST LIFE.  In truth, this is your only fulfilling life, regardless of what the media, popular culture, Christianity-Lite, or the new age movement suggests to us.  At the end of our days, we will certainly be rewarded, but the metric for our divine commendation will have absolutely nothing to do with the fame or fortune we have garnered.

Rather, God’s judgment of us will be solely predicated upon whether we have FOLLOWED HIM – dutifully, freely and fully.  Solomon sums it up so succinctly: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PURPOSE IN THE PRESSURE

PURPOSE IN THE PRESSURE

A compassionate man carefully observed a butterfly cocoon that was attached to his window sill. One day a small opening appeared in the cocoon, and he watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that tiny hole. Eventually it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if it had traveled as far as it could go.

Seriously intent on helping the butterfly, the man retrieved his scissors and snipped away the remaining cocoon. The butterfly then emerged rather easily.

However, it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings. He continued watching the butterfly, expecting that at any moment the wings would grow much larger and the body swelling would subside.

Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It would never be able to fly.

The well-intentioned man had acted in kindness, but also in haste because he simply did not understand the process. Although the restrictive cocoon requires a major struggle for the butterfly to work its way through a very tiny opening, there is divine purpose in the pressure!

The tiny opening in the cocoon is God’s way of forcing fluids trapped inside the body of the butterfly to move into its wings so they will become big enough and strong enough for flight. Wow!

Life’s struggles are precisely what we need to equip us to soar to heights unknown. If God allowed us to go through life with total ease and no difficulty, it might only cripple us and rob us of our ultimate purpose and destiny. Just ask the modest lump of coal that was transformed (under pressure) into a magnificent diamond. Apparent tragedy is divinely reconfigured into sheer triumph and testimony. It's a process.

Is anybody out there ready to fly? No doubt, there is something deep inside of you that needs to be released. But before you head down that runway, be aware that your wings must become fully developed by the occasional struggles that show up in the form of pain and pressure. Indeed, there is purpose in the pressure.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!